The Maine Coastal Program, a division of the Department of Marine Resources (DMR), has opened registration for the annual Coastal Cleanup, a volunteer-driven initiative designed to clean debris from shores and waterfront communities.
Part of the International Coastal Cleanup, Maine’s Coastal Cleanup will run from Sept. 7-21.
Anyone who wishes to coordinate a local cleanup can register online by completing a brief form on the DMR website and selecting a site along the coast.
Once a registration has been received, DMR will remove the chosen location from the available sites on the online registration form. If a coordinator indicates on the registration form they are seeking volunteers, DMR will list that site along with contact information so interested volunteers can reach out to the coordinator.
Prior to the date of each cleanup, coordinators will be sent a package containing resources to collect and record trash.
“We encourage coordinators to have their volunteers bring gloves, hats, sunscreen, and water to stay hydrated,” said Theresa Torrent, outreach and stewardship specialist for the Maine Coastal Program.
The international cleanup was established over 35 years ago to address the problem of trash in our oceans and on our coasts. The non-profit Ocean Conservancy, which coordinates the global initiative, maintains a database of all the items that volunteers around the world record when collecting trash.
“Every year the Maine Coastal Cleanup provides a chance for people to join a global initiative aimed at improving the health of our oceans and to support Maine’s vital coastal communities and,” said Torrent.
Anyone interested in coordinating a Coastal Cleanup can register online via the DMR website.
For more information contact theresa.torrent@maine.gov.
